1998 Buick Lesabre Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 3%of 400 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,050miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Buick Lesabre, 3% of the 400 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,050 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Dt: consumer was driving between 60-75 MPH on the highway when both air bags deployed for no apparent reason. There were no potholes or bumps in the road that would have caused the air bags to engage. After the air bags deployed the car was filled with brown smoke and fire was coming out of both air bags. After the vehicle was stopped the driver put out the passenger side air bag flame. The driver side flame went out by itself. There were only one injury. The passenger suffered bruising to the lower part of the stomach and the thighs. There were no marks left on the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10127491, filed 2005-07, 40,050 miles“My problem is a replacement one is not available at this time to complet the repairs made to my car after my accident on 6/23/00 when I struck a deer & the air bags both employed.”
NHTSA complaint #9001453, filed 2000-07“When driving the vehicle and trying to use the horn, the horn didn't make any sound. Consumer considered this to be a safety defect. The dealer replaced parts of the air bag. The consumer vehicle had been in the shop six times and they can't determine the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #831586, filed 1998-12“While driving 45 -50 MPH had a frontal impact in which driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, and did not protect occupant in this crash. No previous problems with the airbag system. Please provide further information.”
NHTSA complaint #873877, filed 2000-10“No deployment of air bags during vehicle collision until consumer exited the vehicle to remove child from rear car seat, bodyshop has been unable to obtain a replacement passenger side airbag. Nlm”
NHTSA complaint #556239, filed 2000-10Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | 6% |
| 2004 | 14 | 9% |
| 2003 | 21 | 13% |
| 2002 | 37 | 12% |
| 2001 | 29 | 9% |
| 2000 | 31 | 5% |
| 1999 | 13 | 6% |
| 1998 | 11 | 3% |
| 1997 | 33 | 8% |
| 1996 | 8 | 8% |
| 1995 | 44 | 25% |
| 1994 | 19 | 12% |
| 1993 | 9 | 5% |
| 1992 | 14 | 7% |
Other parts of the 1998 Buick Lesabre
196 complaintsFuel system
76 complaintsElectrical system
50 complaintsBrakes
26 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsSteering
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
12 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Buick Lesabre
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology